New tourism objective: Nice opens its doors to gay and lesbian travellers

Carrying the slogan “gay-friendly”, the first phase of the project, called 'Sincere Nice', will see adverts popping up in bars, hotels and restaurants all over the city. And this is only the beginning: a number of other promotional activities are set to follow, all in an attempt to establish the city as one of the world's major LGBT holiday destination.

Denis Zanon, the director of the Office of Tourism and Congress, explained that the industry is waking up to the importance of catering for gay and lesbian clientele, who often have more disposable income and can travel outside of the peak school holiday periods.

However, he fears that presently many hotels and other tourist service providers need to better train their staff to ensure that homosexual customers feel comfortable.

At a recent seminar, attended by over 60 hotel owners, Zanon highlighted the importance for hospitality staff and management to deliver the expected service to all their clients, regardless of their sexual orientation.

According to marketing groups in charge of promoting travel deals in the Côte d’Azur, gay male and female tourists spend 12 per cent more than the average visitor and are more likely to appreciate the efforts made by a destination to promote the local art and culture.

Zanon sees the LGBT market as extermely diverse and modern and thus believes that these latest initiatives will help change the provincial image of Nice, although he also assures other clients - families, young people, retirees- that they will not be neglected by holiday companies as a result of this tourism project.

In response to Sincere Nice, the Association of Bar and Hotel Owners have organised a special training session on gay customer service to take place on the 10th of Feburary.

AA